An Eagle Creek man who sexually molested four girls and photographed some of the encounters was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison.

Kenneth Arnold Cartlidge, 44, pleaded guilty to rape, sodomy, sex abuse and other sex crimes. He accepted a plea agreement rather than go to trial. Cartlidge could have faced a prison sentence of several hundred years had a jury convicted him.

One of the girls, now an adult, was sexually abused for 13 years. The other victims were between nine and 11 years old. One of victims is related to Cartlidge. The others were children of friends or neighbors.

Cartlidge, a military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, briefly apologized and said he accepted responsibility for his actions.

The case against Cartlidge began in September 2011, when he was caught while involved in sexual activity with one of the girls.

Two days before Cartlidge's trial, another victim came forward and she led investigators to additional victims and to photos and videos Cartlidge made of his illegal activities. Cartlidge was reindicted and was charged with 60 sex crimes.

"Why did you have to hurt us," said the victim, who spoke at the sentencing. "Why did you betray us."

She said the damage went beyond rape and abuse. She said she was bullied and mocked by classmates. Some asked for her autograph after they learned of her connection to Cartlidge.

Cartlidge appeared in court via close-circuit television and wore a suicide smock. He was scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 28 but a few days earlier he was involved in a fight at the Clackamas County Jail with Donald Cockrell, who is on trial for murder.

When Cartlidge learned he would be placed in solitary confinement for his role in the altercation, he intentionally injured himself, Amos said.